Systems and methods for graphical data presentation during a sporting event broadcast

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for graphical data presentation during a sporting event broadcast are disclosed. A server platform is constructed and configured in network communication with at least one input device and at least one display device. The at least one input device transmits input data with time code related to the sporting event to the server platform in real time or near real time. The server platform processes the input data according to a production sequencing of the sporting event, thereby creating processed data. The server platform creates and integrates the processed data with a video presentation of the sporting event based on the production sequencing of the sporting event. The at least one display device displays a customized graphical presentation of the processed data with the video presentation.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention is related to and claims priority from thefollowing U.S. patent documents. This application is a continuation ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/682,626, filed Nov. 13, 2019, whichis a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/271,240, filedFeb. 8, 2019, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 15/915,771, filed Mar. 8, 2018, which claims priority from U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/469,220, filed Mar. 9, 2017, eachof which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed to organizing, developing, andrefining graphical data presentations during the broadcast of a sportingevent.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Sports broadcasting is evolving with the development of moderntechnology, such as sensing, tracking, computational, and communicationtechnologies. More and more sports data become available to differentparties involved in a sporting event, including coaches, managers,medical staff, players, broadcasters, fans, and viewers. Those data onlymake sense to these different parties when digestible information can beextracted and presented to them in certain formats. For sportsbroadcasting, it is a challenge to integrate sports data and statisticsinto video presentation in a timely manner during a production.

Exemplary US Patent Documents relevant to the prior art include:

U.S. Pat. No. 7,646,914 for “System and method for collecting andanalyzing event data” by David Anthony Clausi et al. filed Jun. 15,2006, describes a computer-based system for the gathering and analysisof data and planning associated with that data captured during orrelated to events. The system is based on existing core technology thatallows for the use of a digital pen land marked with respect to somespatial location on the surface of a computer screen that allows storageof ink data and allows for interpretation of handwritten characters. Amouse can be used in place of the digital pen, however, it isadvantageous to use the digital pen on the surface of a computer screen.Part of the invention is able to capture real-time data in dynamicenvironments where the user must maintain active contact with the scene,allowing only minimal viewing of the computer screen. This minimalviewing component can be applied to, but not limited to, polling,traffic analysis, and sporting events. For the application to teamsporting events, the minimal viewing component provides an efficientmeans for personnel to enter game statistics in real-time. The completesystem also provides a means of, but is not limited to, generating teamand player statistics across a selection of seasons, games or groups ofgames; capturing both spatial and temporal events; synchronizing digitalvideo with event actions; analyzing contributions of groups of playersbased on game statistics; maintaining detailed scouting information on aplurality of teams; maintaining detailed scouting and recruitinginformation on a plurality of individual personnel; channeling aplurality of selected subsets of data; storing a plurality of game plays(formatted and unformatted); preparing and displaying data associatedwith a league containing multiple teams; and enabling strategicdecisions (drills, practices, schedules, goal setting).

U.S. Pat. No. 8,401,460 for “Transmitting sports and entertainment datato wireless hand held devices over a telecommunications network” by LuisM. Ortiz et al. filed Nov. 30, 2011, describes a method and system forwirelessly providing venue-based data to one or more wireless hand helddevices. Venue-based data can be acquired from one or more venues. Thevenue-based data can be authenticated and wirelessly transmitted to oneor more hand held devices through one or more wirelesstelecommunications networks, in response to authenticating thevenue-based data and/or the hand held device(s) and/or a user of thehand held device(s), in order to permit the venue-based data to beaccessible via one or more hand held devices at locations remote fromthe venue(s).

U.S. Pat. No. 9,002,979 for “Sports timing system (STS) event andparticipant announcement communication system (EPACS) and method” byKurt S. Hansen filed Jan. 11, 2011, describes systems and methods forcommunicating real-time sporting event and participant announcementinformation received from a sport timing system (STS). The systemcomprising an announcement interface system having a processor, amemory, a first data interface communicating over a stateless packetdata communication network with the sport timing system, and a secondinterface communicating with an announcement system. The first datainterface receives a multicast datagram ANNC message including anidentification of the sport timing system and participant data includinga participant identifier for uniquely identifying each participant inthe sporting event and participant timing data. The announcementinterface system formats the received portion of the participant datainto an announcement system message and transmitting the announcementsystem message including the participant data, the participantidentifier and participant timing data.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,039,527 for “Broadcasting method for broadcasting imageswith augmented motion data” by Michael Bentley filed Sep. 8, 2014,describes a broadcasting method for broadcasting images with augmentedmotion data, which may utilize a system having at least one camera, acomputer and a wireless communication interface. The system obtains datafrom motion capture elements, analyzes data and optionally stores datain database for use in broadcasting applications, virtual realityapplications and/or data mining. The system also recognizes at least onemotion capture data element associated with a user or piece ofequipment, and receives data associated with the motion capture elementvia the wireless communication interface. The system also enables uniquedisplays associated with the user, such as 3D overlays onto images ofthe user to visually depict the captured motion data. Ratings,compliance, ball flight path data can be calculated and displayed, forexample on a map or timeline or both. Furthermore, the system enablesperformance related equipment fitting and purchase.

US Patent Publication No. 20150074560 for “System and Method forEnhanced Second Screen Experience” by Michael P. Conley et al. filedMar. 29, 2013, describes a system and method for providing an enhancedsecond screen experience including a content-rich second screen userinterface with information relative to an event and event participantsas well as social media aspects relative to the event and eventparticipants.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,610,786 for “Providing multiple video perspectives ofactivities through a data network to a remote multimedia server forselective display by remote viewing audiences” by Luis M. Ortiz filedFeb. 2, 2012, describes Multiple visual perspectives in video of privateand public activities including those in public areas such asentertainment venues captured by cameras located near the activities canbe transmitted over data networks to a server where video-related datais processed and recorded for selective display by authorized, remotevideo display devices (e.g., HDTV, set-top boxes, computers, handhelddevices) in wired/wireless communication with the server. Users can beregistered and authorized to access the server to provide/access videocaptured by cameras at activities. Wireless handheld devices canselectively retrieve video-related data captured at activities forserver storage and subsequent display by video display devices. Capturedvideo/pictures can be organized in a server based on at least one of:activity title, activity time, activity date, activity place, wirelesshandheld device location at time of video recording, distance fromlocation of interest. Simultaneous display of multiple videos on adisplay can be synchronized.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,944,928 for “Virtual reality system for viewing currentand previously stored or calculated motion data” by Ryan Kaps et al.filed Nov. 16, 2012, describes a virtual reality system for viewingcurrent and previously stored or calculated motion data. System obtainsdata from motion capture elements, analyzes data and stores data indatabase for use in virtual reality applications and/or data mining,which may be charged for. Enables unique displays associated with theuser, such as 3D overlays onto images of the user to visually depict thecaptured motion data. Ratings, compliance, ball flight path data can becalculated and displayed, for example on a map or timeline or both.Enables performance related equipment fitting and purchase. Includesactive and passive identifier capabilities.

US Patent Publication No. 20150149837 for “Method, Apparatus, andComputer Program Product for Collecting and Displaying Sporting EventData Based on Real Time Data for Proximity and Movement of Objects” byRodrigo Alonso et al. filed Oct. 24, 2014, describes a method, apparatusand computer program product for collecting sporting event data based onreal time data for proximity and movement of objects. In the context ofa method, the method includes calculating a tag data filter parameterfor a plurality of tag events based on received tag blink data and taglocation data, wherein the tag data filter parameter comprises a blinkperiod, distance span, or velocity, calculating a participant locationdata adjustment factor based on the tag data filter parameter, andcalculating multidimensional player location information per unit timebased on the plurality of tag events and the participant locationadjustment factor.

US Patent Publication No. 20150248194 for “Real-Time Collection andDistribution of Information for an Event Organized According toSub-events” by Keith Simpson filed Feb. 28, 2014, describes a system andmethod of asynchronously collecting different types of information foran event (e.g., football game) and aggregating the information inreal-time according to sub-events (e.g., plays from scrimmage). One ormore terminals (e.g., smartphones, tablet or laptop computers) areconfigured to capture information (video, still images, metadata) ofeach sub-event and distribute the captured information to the otherterminals in real-time. Such distribution may be facilitated using acloud network and server, or else a peer-to-peer (P2P) network. Further,one of the terminals is configured to notify the other terminals when aparticular sub-event has commenced, thus allowing the capturedinformation of the particular sub-event to be associated with acorresponding sub-event identifier. The captured information may beaggregated according to the sub-events by use of sub-event identifiersfor presentation to users, e.g., in a playlist.

US Patent Publication No. 20150358680 for “System, Method and Interfacefor Presenting Event Coverage Using Plural Concurrent InterfacePortions” by David Feldstein et al. filed Jun. 8, 2015, describes asystem, method and interface for presenting event coverage using pluralconcurrent interface portions is provided including concurrent interfaceportions, each interface portion including different classes of eventinformation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to systems and methods for graphicaldata presentation during a sporting event broadcast. Raw data andassociated time codes are collected from various sources, and processedbased on a sequencing of a sporting event. A framework is designed basedon the types of available data, the timing of the available data, thecontext of a sporting event, and the type of display devices. Theprocessed data is integrated with video presentation according to thedesigned framework based on production sequencing of the sports eventbroadcast.

These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent tothose skilled in the art after a reading of the following description ofthe preferred embodiment when considered with the drawings, as theysupport the claimed invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exemplary data usage chart in a single football play.

FIG. 2 is a sample of relevant Next Gen Stats (NGS) data.

FIG. 3 illustrates an in-game hybrid stat line for a quarterback duringa football game.

FIG. 4 illustrates an in-game hybrid stat line for a running back duringa football game.

FIG. 5 illustrates an in-game hybrid stat line for a receiver during afootball game.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a cloud-based system of the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 is another schematic diagram of a cloud-based system of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is related to organizing, developing, and refininggraphical presentations of next generation statistical data according toproduction sequencing during a sporting event broadcast.

In recent years, with the development of tracking and sensingtechnology, more and more data can be collected from players during asports event than ever before. In some embodiments, tracking chips areembedded in or attached to uniforms, padding, helmets, gloves, wristbands, head bands, shoes, protective wear, or other wearable items forsports players, such as by way of example and not limitation, basketballplayers, football players, soccer players, baseball players, hockeyplayers, lacrosse players, for tracking their locations and directions.In some embodiments, at least one sensor, chip or transmitter isembedded under or attached to the skin of the sports players, orremovably attached to the sports players, for example as in a removableadhesive patch or tape. In some embodiments, various biometric sensorsare also embedded in different wearable devices removably attachable onplayers to obtain various biometric data for players. Biometric dataincludes, by way of example and not limitation, heart rates, lungcapabilities, core body temperatures, hydration, respiration, impactmetrics, etc. For example, a mouth guard used by a football player has atemperature sensor for sensing the football player's body temperature, ahydration sensor for sensing the hydration level, and an impact sensorfor sensing impacts on the player's head. There are so many types ofdata available during a sports event that this data has not beenintegrated in sports broadcasting and presentation in an effective way.For example, the NFL and its broadcast partners have been struggling forthe past three years trying to figure out the best way to use the XYZplayer tracking data to enhance the presentation of a football game. Ithas not been a success to date.

In one embodiment of the present invention, an efficient and effectivemethod is provided for organizing, developing, and refining graphicalpresentations of data during a sporting event broadcasting based on:types of available data; timing of data availability; a general“rhythm”, event sequencing, and natural cadence of the sporting event;the context of the sporting event; and types of display devices.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a framework is provided forstreamlining next generation stats data along with production sequencingduring a sporting event so that appropriate data are displayed atappropriate times in appropriate graphics. Such a framework is definedin a rules engine based on the types of available data, the timing ofthe available data, the context of a sporting event, and the types ofdisplay devices. In one embodiment, the framework is a usage chart asshown in FIG. 1 as an example. An intelligent analytics platform isoperable to receive data from different data sources, and process thedata based on the sequencing of a sporting event. In one embodiment, theintelligent analytics platform comprises at least one rules enginedefining at least one framework for data processing for at least onesporting event. In another embodiment, there is one rules enginecorresponding to one type of sporting event. The intelligent analyticsplatform automatically aggregates, correlates and synchronizes multipleon-site data feeds. Each of the multiple on-site data feeds has acorresponding time code. The intelligent analytics platform is vendoragnostic and sensor agnostic; that is to say, the intelligent analyticsplatform complements any sensor product from any vendor for datacollection. The intelligent analytics platform provides customizabledata integration production and broadcast for a variety of sportingevents. In one embodiment, the intelligent analytics platform iscloud-based.

A display device is operable to receive and display the processed databased on the sequencing of a sporting event from the intelligentanalytics platform. In one embodiment, there is more than one type ofdisplay device for one sporting event. The intelligent analyticsplatform provides customized graphical presentations and/or customizedgraphical user interfaces (GUIs) on different types of display devicesfor displaying and/or interacting with the processed data based on thesequencing of one sporting event. For example, graphical presentationsof the processed data related to the sporting event are customized whenthe sporting event is broadcast on television, computers, smart phones,tablets and other display devices. Graphical presentations of theprocessed data related to the sporting event are also customized whenthe sporting event is streamed on talent screens, scoring screens,telestrators, and EVS broadcasting equipment. In another example, GUIsfor interacting with the graphical presentations of the processed datarelated to the sporting event are customized for different broadcastingand streaming devices. In one embodiment, the intelligent analyticsplatform provides customized GUIs and graphical presentations fordevices used by different parties relating to a sporting event. Forexample, the graphical presentations of the processed data related to asporting event and/or the GUIs for interacting with the graphicalpresentations are customized for owners, coaches, trainers, medicalstaff, announcers, in-stadium displays, fans, viewers, and other relatedparties. In another embodiment, the intelligent analytics platformprovides customized graphical presentations and GUIs for differentsporting events. For example, the graphical presentations and the GUIsfor football, basketball, baseball, and other types of sporting eventsare different and customized to be suitable for each specific type ofsporting event.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a usage chart methodology isapplied for laying out a graphical presentation of a sporting event withappropriate data at appropriate times. FIG. 1 is an example of a usagechart used in a single football play. There are different sources of rawdata, for example, XYZ tracking, quarterback stats, play log, and eventmarkers during a single play. The event markers during a single playcomprise snap, hand off, pass release, pass catch, first contact, andwhistle. All these data are time-coded. For a single play, theproduction sequencing comprises huddle, pre-snap, action, spot, replay#1, replay #2, replay #3, and post-play. Note that the action comprisesevents such as snap, hand off, pass release, pass catch, first contact,and whistle. In one embodiment, the number of replay sessions during aproduction sequencing is not fixed. FIG. 1 is an exemplary chart showingthree replay sessions for a single play. In one embodiment, the timeinterval for each session in the production sequencing is not fixedeither. The time interval depends on the rhythm of a specific sportingevent and/or specific production requirements for broadcasting.

Continuing with FIG. 1, different data are available at different times.For example, information about players on the field and substitutes, andinformation about Origin & Destination (O&D) Personnel Packages areavailable at the huddle session. Data for player locations for snap andmatchups are available at a pre-snap session. Data about playerlocations and speeds, and data about snap to pass and dropback areavailable at the replay #1 session. Data about open receivers and pocketmetrics are available during the replay #2 session. Data about routesand more play metrics are available during the replay #3 session. Dataabout routes with catch information and all player metrics are availableduring the post-play session.

With such a timeline as above, appropriate data are auto-populated todifferent display devices. For example, on a scoring screen, “on thefield” data are displayed during the huddle session and the pre-snapsession, and next generation statistics and traditional stats aredisplayed in the replay #3 session and the post-play session. Also forexample, on a telestrator, player highlights and speeds are displayed inthe replay #1 session, data about open receivers, dropback, etc. aredisplayed in the replay #2 session, and data about routes are displayedin the replay #3 session. Meanwhile, certain data can be interfaced withscore bars and chyrons during a certain session. Also, appropriate datacan be live pushed onto character generators (e.g., SPORTSCG fromSportsMEDIA Technology Corporation (SMT)) and virtual graphics (e.g.,SMART from SMT).

With such a framework, sports data are displayed based on the productionsequencing so that the viewers, the audience and other related partieshave better viewing experience with informed data at appropriate times.

FIG. 2 shows a sample of relevant NGS data. NFL player tracking, alsoknown as Next Gen Stats (NGS), is the capture of real-time locationdata, speed, and acceleration for every player for every play on everyinch of the field. Sensors throughout the stadium track tags placed onplayers' shoulder pads, charting individual movements within inches. Inone embodiment, NGS data are available for full games as well as withinmultiple game contexts, for example by Down, by Red Zone, by Quarter, byHalf, etc. NGS data are also available for different players in a game.For example, in a football game, NGS data available for a quarterbackcomprise average snap to pass time, average dropback distance, averagepocket radius at release, stats per skill player combination, stats whena targeted receiver is tightly covered, stats when a targeted receiverlines up on the left and when a targeted receiver lines up on the right,stats on short, mid and long targets, number of pressures (low pocketradius at release), and average and maximum speed. FIG. 3 illustrates anin-game hybrid stat line for a quarterback during a football game. Thein-game hybrid stat line for the quarterback comprises a section for NGSdata, which displays the average snap to pass time and average dropbackdistance of the quarterback.

Continuing with FIG. 2, NGS data available for a running back comprisestats when running in the left gap, center gap and right gap, statsagainst defensive personnel package, net yards before contact, net yardsafter contact, number of plays, target percentage, gross yards run, netyards run, net and gross running efficiency, and average and maximumspeed. FIG. 4 illustrates an in-game hybrid stat line for a running backin a football game. The in-game hybrid stat line for the running backcomprises a section for NGS data, which displays the number of plays,the target percentage, and the running efficiency of the running back.

Continuing with FIG. 2, NGS stats available for a receiver comprisestats when lining up in the slot, lining up wide, and lining up on theleft and right, stats against defensive personnel package, stats byroute type, average coverage radius, number of plays, target percentage,percentage open on pass play, yards after contact, yards run, andaverage and max speed. FIG. 5 illustrates an in-game hybrid stat linefor a receiver. The in-game hybrid stat line for the receiver comprisesa section for NGS data, which displays the target percentage, and thepercentage open on pass play of the receiver.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the intelligent analyticsplatform comprises a machine learning engine to analyze differentsporting events automatically. The intelligent analytics platformcomprises at least one rules engine. In one embodiment, the intelligentanalytics platform comprises one rules engine storing different sets ofrules for different sporting events. In one embodiment, the intelligentanalytics platform comprises more than one rules engines storing rulesfor more than one sporting events. A framework is designed based onspecific rules for a specific sporting event in a rules engine. Therules engine is operable to recognize the sporting event and select aset of rules for the sporting event. In one embodiment, the at least onerules engine is operable to update rules for a sporting event.

In another embodiment, systems and methods are provided for automatedsports broadcasting production. Various raw data for a sporting eventare received at the analytics platform for processing, advanced data arecreated based on the various raw data, a framework is designed orselected for the sporting event based on usage chart methodology, andappropriate advanced data are displayed with video streaming based on aproduction sequencing.

In one embodiment, the analytics platform in the present invention is acloud-based platform in networked communication with various inputdevices and output devices.

Although ‘cloud computing’ can generically be applied to any software asa service or to services interfacing through the Internet, in thepresent invention, ‘cloud-based’ computing refers to distributedcomputing among at least one server or more than one server.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a schematic diagram illustrating a virtualizedcomputing network used in of one embodiment of the invention forautomated systems and methods is shown. As illustrated, components ofthe systems and methods include the following components andsub-components, all constructed and configured for network-basedcommunication, and further including data processing and storage. Asillustrated in FIG. 6, a basic schematic of some of the key componentsof a system according to the present invention are shown. The system 200comprises a server 210 with a processing unit 211. The server 210 isconstructed, configured and coupled to enable communication over anetwork 250. The server provides for user interconnection with theserver over the network using a personal computer (PC) 240 positionedremotely from the server, the personal computer having instructions 247.Furthermore, the system is operable for a multiplicity of remotepersonal computers or terminals 260, 270, having operating systems 269,279. For example, a client/server architecture is shown. Alternatively,a user may interconnect through the network 250 using a user device suchas a personal digital assistant (PDA), mobile communication device, suchas by way of example and not limitation, a mobile phone, a cell phone,smart phone, laptop computer, netbook, a terminal, or any othercomputing device suitable for network connection. Also, alternativearchitectures may be used instead of the client/server architecture. Forexample, a PC network, or other suitable architecture may be used. Inone embodiment, user devices 240, 260, and 270 are operable tocommunicate with the intelligence analytics platform and displaygraphical presentations of processed data from the intelligent analyticsplatform for a sporting event based on a production sequencing. Thenetwork 250 may be the Internet, an intranet, or any other networksuitable for searching, obtaining, and/or using information and/orcommunications. The system of the present invention further includes anoperating system 212 installed and running on the server 210, enablingserver 210 to communicate through network 250 with the remote,distributed user devices. The operating system may be any operatingsystem known in the art that is suitable for network communication asdescribed hereinbelow. Data storage 220 may house an operating system222, memory 224, and programs 226.

Additionally or alternatively to FIG. 6, FIG. 7 is a schematic diagramof an embodiment of the invention illustrating a computer system,generally described as 800, having a network 810 and a plurality ofcomputing devices 820, 830, 840. In one embodiment of the invention, thecomputer system 800 includes a cloud-based network 810 for distributedcommunication via the network's wireless communication antenna 812 andprocessing by a plurality of mobile communication computing devices 830.In another embodiment of the invention, the computer system 800 is avirtualized computing system capable of executing any or all aspects ofsoftware and/or application components presented herein on the computingdevices 820, 830, 840. In certain aspects, the computer system 800 maybe implemented using hardware or a combination of software and hardware,either in a dedicated computing device, or integrated into anotherentity, or distributed across multiple entities or computing devices.

By way of example, and not limitation, the computing devices 820, 830,840 are intended to represent various forms of digital computers 820,840, 850 and mobile devices 830, such as a server, blade server,mainframe, mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a smartphone, a desktop computer, a netbook computer, a tablet computer, aworkstation, a laptop, and other similar computing devices. Thecomponents shown here, their connections and relationships, and theirfunctions, are meant to be exemplary only, and are not meant to limitimplementations of the invention described and/or claimed in thisdocument. In one embodiment, computing devices 820, 830, 840 representvarious devices used for displaying and interacting with broadcasting orstreaming various sports events.

In one embodiment, the computing device 820 includes components such asa processor 860, a system memory 862 having a random access memory (RAM)864 and a read-only memory (ROM) 866, and a system bus 868 that couplesthe memory 862 to the processor 860. In another embodiment, thecomputing device 830 may additionally include components such as astorage device 890 for storing the operating system 892 and one or moreapplication programs 894, a network interface unit 896, and/or aninput/output controller 898. Each of the components may be coupled toeach other through at least one bus 868. The input/output controller 898may receive and process input from, or provide output to, a number ofother devices 899, including, but not limited to, alphanumeric inputdevices, mice, electronic styluses, display units, touch screens, signalgeneration devices (e.g., speakers) or printers.

By way of example, and not limitation, the processor 860 may be ageneral-purpose microprocessor (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU)),a graphics processing unit (GPU), a microcontroller, a Digital SignalProcessor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), aField Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), a Programmable Logic Device (PLD),a controller, a state machine, gated or transistor logic, discretehardware components, or any other suitable entity or combinationsthereof that can perform calculations, process instructions forexecution, and/or other manipulations of information.

In another implementation, shown in FIG. 7, a computing device 840 mayuse multiple processors 860 and/or multiple buses 868, as appropriate,along with multiple memories 862 of multiple types (e.g., a combinationof a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one ormore microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core).

Also, multiple computing devices may be connected, with each deviceproviding portions of the necessary operations (e.g., a server bank, agroup of blade servers, or a multi-processor system). Alternatively,some steps or methods may be performed by circuitry that is specific toa given function.

According to various embodiments, the computer system 800 may operate ina networked environment using logical connections to local and/or remotecomputing devices 820, 830, 840, 850 through a network 810. A computingdevice 830 may connect to a network 810 through a network interface unit896 connected to the bus 868. Computing devices may communicatecommunication media through wired networks, direct-wired connections orwirelessly such as acoustic, RF or infrared through a wirelesscommunication antenna 897 in communication with the network's wirelesscommunication antenna 812 and the network interface unit 896, which mayinclude digital signal processing circuitry when necessary. The networkinterface unit 896 may provide for communications under various modes orprotocols.

In one or more exemplary aspects, the instructions may be implemented inhardware, software, firmware, or any combinations thereof. A computerreadable medium may provide volatile or non-volatile storage for one ormore sets of instructions, such as operating systems, data structures,program modules, applications or other data embodying any one or more ofthe methodologies or functions described herein. The computer readablemedium may include the memory 862, the processor 860, and/or the storagemedia 890 and may be a single medium or multiple media (e.g., acentralized or distributed computer system) that store the one or moresets of instructions 900. Non-transitory computer readable mediaincludes all computer readable media, with the sole exception being atransitory, propagating signal per se. The instructions 900 may furtherbe transmitted or received over the network 810 via the networkinterface unit 896 as communication media, which may include a modulateddata signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism andincludes any delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means asignal that has one or more of its characteristics changed or set in amanner as to encode information in the signal.

Storage devices 890 and memory 862 include, but are not limited to,volatile and non-volatile media such as cache, RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM,FLASH memory or other solid state memory technology, discs (e.g.,digital versatile disc (DVD), HD-DVD, BLU-RAY, compact disc (CD),CD-ROM) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape,magnetic disk storage, floppy disk, or other magnetic storage devices,or any other medium that can be used to store the computer readableinstructions and which can be accessed by the computer system 800.

It is also contemplated that the computer system 800 may not include allof the components shown in FIG. 7, may include other components that arenot explicitly shown in FIG. 7, or may utilize an architecturecompletely different than that shown in FIG. 7. The various illustrativelogical blocks, modules, elements, circuits, and algorithms described inconnection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented aselectronic hardware, computer software, or combinations of both. Toclearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software,various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and stepshave been described above generally in terms of their functionality.Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or softwaredepends upon the particular application and design constraints imposedon the overall system. Skilled artisans may implement the describedfunctionality in varying ways for each particular application (e.g.,arranged in a different order or partitioned in a different way), butsuch implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing adeparture from the scope of the present invention.

The present invention, as a whole, is implemented through anunconventional and non-generic combination of physical elementsproviding sports data collection, advanced analytics and application ina time-sensitive and device-agnostic manner with real time networkcommunication. The analytics platform of the present invention providesimprovement to sports data collection and aggregation and digestion, andprovides an improvement to the data broadcast and presentation forsporting events, which is inextricably tied to computer technology.

Certain modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled inthe art upon a reading of the foregoing description. While a footballevent is described in detail in this specification, the presentinvention applies to any other sporting event, by way of example and notlimitation, golf, football, basketball, rugby, baseball, soccer, hockey,cricket, volleyball, tennis, lacrosse, horse racing, boxing, mixedmartial arts, a race (for instance, a motor vehicle race, a bicyclerace, a ski race, a speed skating race), a track and field competition,a fishing tournament, and any other sporting event or competitive event.The above-mentioned examples are provided to serve the purpose ofclarifying the aspects of the invention and it will be apparent to oneskilled in the art that they do not serve to limit the scope of theinvention. All modifications and improvements have been deleted hereinfor the sake of conciseness and readability but are properly within thescope of the present invention.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A system for graphical data presentationfor a sporting event, comprising: a server platform constructed andconfigured for network communication with at least one input device andat least one display device; wherein the server platform is operable toreceive input data from the at least one input device; wherein theserver platform comprises at least one rules engine, wherein the atleast one rules engine is operable to generate a framework of thesporting event based on the input data and rules of the sporting event;wherein the server platform is operable to process the input data basedon the framework of the sporting event, thereby creating processed data;wherein the server platform is operable to customize and integrate apresentation of the processed data with a presentation of the sportingevent; and wherein the at least one display device is operable todisplay the presentation of the processed data with the presentation ofthe sporting event.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the framework ofthe sporting event is further based on a context of the sporting event.3. The system of claim 1, wherein framework of the sporting event isfurther based on a type of the at least one display device.
 4. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the at least one display device is furtheroperable to display and interact with the presentation of the processeddata.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the processed data is operablefor integration with a character generator and/or a virtualpresentation, and wherein the integration with the character generatorand/or the virtual presentation is performed in real-time or nearreal-time.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one inputdevice is embedded in or attached to skin of at least one sports playerin the sporting event.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the frameworkof the sporting event is further based on a production sequencing of thesporting event, and wherein the production sequencing is based on arhythm, an event sequencing, a natural cadence of the sporting event,and/or specific production requirements for broadcasting.
 8. The systemof claim 1, wherein the presentation of the processed data is an in-gamehybrid statistics line embedded in the presentation of the sportingevent.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one rules engineis operable to generate the framework of the sporting event with usagechart methodology.
 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least onerules engine is operable to automatically recognize the sporting eventbased on the input data and automatically select the rules of thesporting event.
 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least onerules engine is operable to update the rules of the sporting event. 12.A system for graphical data presentation for a sporting event,comprising: a server platform constructed and configured for networkcommunication with a multiplicity of input devices and at least onedisplay device; wherein the server platform is operable to receive datafrom the multiplicity of input devices; wherein the server platformcomprises at least one rules engine, wherein the at least one rulesengine is operable to generate a framework of the sporting event basedon the input data and rules of the sporting event; wherein the serverplatform is operable to analyze the input data based on the framework ofthe sporting event, thereby creating analyzed data; wherein the serverplatform is operable to customize and integrate a presentation of theanalyzed data with a presentation of the sporting event; and wherein theat least one display device is operable to display the presentation ofthe analyzed data with the presentation of the sporting event via atleast one Graphical User Interface (GUI) for the at least one displaydevice.
 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one rulesengine is operable to generate the framework of the sporting event withusage chart methodology.
 14. The system of claim 12, wherein themultiplicity of input devices includes at least one sensor.
 15. A methodfor graphical data presentation for a sporting event, comprising:providing a server platform in network communication with at least oneinput device and at least one display device, wherein the serverplatform comprises at least one rules engine; the server platformreceiving input data from the at least one input device; the at leastone rules engine generating a framework of the sporting event based onthe input data and rules of the sporting event; the server platformprocessing the input data based on the framework of the sporting event,thereby creating processed data; the server platform customizing andintegrating a presentation of the processed data with a presentation ofthe sporting event; and the at least one display device displaying thepresentation of the processed data with the presentation of the sportingevent.
 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the serverplatform customizing a graphical user interface (GUI) for the at leastone display device used by a specific party related to the sportingevent.
 17. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one rules enginegenerates the framework of the sporting event with usage chartmethodology.
 18. The method of claim 15, further comprising the at leastone rules engine storing a multiplicity of rules sets for a multiplicityof sporting events.
 19. The method of claim 15, further comprising theat least one rules engine automatically recognizing the sporting eventbased on the input data and automatically selecting a set of rules ofthe sporting event.
 20. The method of claim 15, wherein the framework ofthe sporting event is further based on a production sequencing of thesporting event and/or a context of the sporting event.